Global jigsaw puzzle

ABSTRACT

A global jigsaw puzzle including a global body composed of two semispherical bodies and a number of pieces. The number of the pieces is such that the pieces can be assembled to form at least one complete spherical face. The pieces have complementary shapes and a curvature equal to that of the surface of the global body. A magnet is inlaid in each piece. By means of the magnetic attraction of the magnet, the pieces are attracted by and easily detachably attached to the surface of the global body.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention is related to a global jigsaw puzzle. Bymeans of magnetic attraction of the magnet inlaid in each piece, anumber of pieces are attracted by and easily detachably attached to thesurface of the global body.

[0002]FIG. 8 shows a conventional plane jigsaw puzzle including a numberof pieces 9 formed with predetermined shapes and printed withpredetermined parts of a picture. After the pieces 9 are completely puttogether, a complete picture is presented.

[0003] When played, a player only needs to judge the conjunction betweenparts of the picture for completing the assembly. Therefore, the playercan only have fun in putting the parts of the picture together.Furthermore, the pieces 9 are assembled with each other only by means ofthe minor insertion force between the pieces 9. The completed jigsawpuzzle must be framed and mounted. Otherwise, the pieces 9 is verylikely to drop or miss. This leads to incomplete picture.

[0004]FIGS. 9 and 10 show a conventional global jigsaw puzzle includinga global body 8 and a number of pieces 82. The global body 8 is formedwith a plurality of holes 81. The pieces 82 have concave shape inaccordance with the profile of the global body 8. In addition, eachpiece 82 has a downward projecting tenon 821 which is inserted into thehole 81 to fix the piece 82 onto the global body 8.

[0005] According to the above arrangement, the pieces 82 are snuglyattached to the surface of the global body 8 and fixed thereon by meansof the retaining force of the tenons 821. Therefore, the pieces 82 arenot so easy to drop from the global body 8. However, the tenon 821 isinserted in the hole 81 by considerably great force. Moreover, afterassembled, there is no gap between two adjacent pieces 82. Accordingly,a player is hard to extract the piece 82 from the global body 8.Furthermore, such global jigsaw puzzle is only different from the planejigsaw puzzle in that the plane face is changed into a spherical face.Therefore, the player still can have fun only in putting the parts ofthe picture together.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] It is therefore a primary object of the present invention toprovide a global jigsaw puzzle including a global body made of magneticconductive material and a number of pieces. The pieces havecomplementary shapes and a curvature equal to that of the surface of theglobal body. A magnet is inlaid in each piece. By means of the magneticattraction of the magnet, the pieces are attracted by and easilydetachably attached to the surface of the global body.

[0007] It is a further object of the present invention to provide theabove global jigsaw puzzle in which the number of the pieces is suchthat the pieces can be assembled to form at least one complete sphericalface. Therefore, a player not only can have fun in putting the piecestogether, but also can enjoy selection of picture.

[0008] The present invention can be best understood through thefollowing description and accompanying drawings wherein:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009]FIG. 1 is a perspective assembled view of the present invention;

[0010]FIG. 2 is a perspective exploded view of the present invention;

[0011]FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing that the flanges of the twosemispherical bodies are fastened by the fastening ring of the presentinvention;

[0012]FIG. 4 is a sectional taken along line IV-IV of FIG. 1;

[0013]FIG. 5 shows the pieces of the present invention in an explodedstate;

[0014]FIG. 6 shows the assembly of the pieces of the present invention;

[0015]FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the presentinvention;

[0016]FIG. 8 shows a conventional plane jigsaw puzzle;

[0017]FIG. 9 shows a piece of a conventional global jigsaw puzzle; and

[0018]FIG. 10 is a sectional showing the connection between the pieceand the global body of the conventional global jigsaw puzzle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0019] Please refer to FIGS. 1 to 6. The global jigsaw puzzle of thepresent invention includes a global body 1 and a number of pieces 2.

[0020] The global body 1 is composed of two semispherical bodies 11, 12made of magnetic conductive material. In this embodiment, the globalbody 1 is made of iron material. The mating edges of the twosemispherical bodies 11, 12 are inward curled to form flanges 111, 121.A fastening ring 13 is disposed in the global body 1. The outercircumference of the fastening ring 13 is formed with an annular groove131. An annular stop rib 132 is formed at the middle of the annulargroove 131 to divide the annular groove 131 into two insertion sections131A, 131B corresponding to the flanges 111, 121. Accordingly, the twoflanges 111, 121 can be inserted and located in the insertion sections131 A, 131B to assemble the two semispherical bodies 11, 12 with eachother to form the global body 1 as shown in FIG. 3.

[0021] A magnet 21 is inlaid in each piece 2, whereby the piece 2 isattracted by and attached to the global body 1. In this embodiment, thenumber of the pieces is such that the pieces 2 can be assembled to justform a complete spherical face. Such design is for a beginner. Thepieces 2 are printed with predetermined picture and formed withcomplementary shapes and can be put together. The pieces 2 havecurvature equal to that of the surface of the global body 1. Referringto FIG. 5, in this embodiment, a globe is cut in a direction normal tothe axis thereof and divided into five parts, that is, top part A, upperannular part B, middle annular part C, lower annular part D and bottompart E. The upper, middle and lower annular parts B, C, D arerespectively cut into a plurality of pieces 2. The upper and lowerannular parts B, D have symmetrical curvature so that they can bedivided into same number and same shape of pieces 2, whereby themanufacturing is facilitated. The top and bottom parts A, E are designedas substantially circular pieces 2.

[0022] When putting the pieces 2 together, a player only needs to placethe respective pieces 2 onto a desired position. By means of themagnetic attraction of the magnet 21 inlaid in each piece 2, the pieces2 are attracted by and attached to the global body 1 made of magneticconductive material as shown in FIG. 6. After the assembly is completedand when the player desires to show the work, the pieces 2 will firmlyattach to the global body 1 by means of the magnetic attraction and notsubject to dropping. After shown, in the case that the player desires totake off the pieces 2 for next assembly, with only the nail of onefinger, the player can easily pry up one piece 2 from the gap betweenany two adjacent pieces 2. Thereafter, the player can further pry up allother pieces 2 one by one. Accordingly, the pieces 2 can be easily takenoff without trouble.

[0023] Alternatively, the number of the pieces 2 can be more than thatnecessary for assembling a complete globe. That is, after a globe iscompleted, some pieces 2 will remain. This design is for an advancedplayer. Therefore, the player not only can have fun in putting thepieces together, but also can enjoy selection of picture.

[0024]FIG. 7 shows a second embodiment of the present invention, inwhich the pieces 4 can be pentagonal, hexagonal or otherwise irregularlyshaped for assembly of a complete global shape. The pieces 4 areattracted by and attached to the spherical surface of the global body 3as the first embodiment.

[0025] The above embodiments are only used to illustrate the presentinvention, not intended to limit the scope thereof. Many modificationsof the above embodiments can be made without departing from the spiritof the present invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A global jigsaw puzzle comprising: a global bodycomposed of two semispherical bodies and made of magnetic conductivematerial; and a number of pieces each of which is provided with a magnetand which can be put together to form at least one complete global face,the surfaces of the pieces being printed with a predetermined picture,the pieces having complementary shapes a curvature equal to that of thesurface of the global body, whereby by means of the magnetic attractionof the magnet, the pieces are attracted by and attached to the surfaceof the global body.
 2. A global jigsaw puzzle as claimed in claim 1,wherein the magnet is inlaid in a central portion of each piece andspaced from the periphery of the piece by a certain distance.
 3. Aglobal jigsaw puzzle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the mating edges ofthe two semispherical bodies are respectively inward curled to formflanges, a fastening ring being disposed in the global body, an outercircumference of the fastening ring being formed with an annular groove,an annular stop rib being formed at the middle of the annular groove todivide the annular groove into two insertion sections corresponding tothe flanges of the two semispherical bodies, whereby the two flanges canbe inserted and located in the insertion sections to assemble the twosemispherical bodies with each other.